| EDM2146BRIAN HAW AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST 11.05.2006 Harvey, Nick |
| Baker, Norman Brooke, AnnetteCable, VincentCohen, HarryCorbyn, JeremyCryer, AnnDavey, EdwardDrew, DavidDurkan, MarkGeorge, AndrewHemming, JohnHopkins, KelvinJackson, GlendaKramer, SusanLeech, JohnLlwyd, ElfynMacNeil, AngusMcDonnell, AlasdairRennie, WillieSpink, BobStunell, AndrewVis, RudiWareing, Robert NWilliams, Mark |
| That this House notes the verdict of Monday 9th May in the case of Brian Haw, peace protestor in Parliament Square for over four and a half years, which overturned the original High Court ruling allowing him to continue his peace vigil; notes with concern that Mr Haw may now be forced to end his protest should the Police Commissioner fail to grant him permission to remain; further notes that Mr Haw’s silent protest causes no hindrance to the proper operation of Parliament, nor does it create a public disorder; further notes that this House owes Mr Haw a debt of gratitude for his long-term active engagement in democracy; believes that Mr Haw should be allowed to remain in Parliament Square; and calls upon the Government to nurture engagement by the public with politicians and to support the democratic right of all to protest where they can be seen by hon. Members. |
ARMED FORCES BILL : NOW A.W.O.L. COULD MEAN LIFE IN PRISON
Thank you to all those who lobbyed their MPs about the Armed Forces Bill.
Clause 8 of this Bill introduces a new and tougher definition of desertion: soldiers who go absent without leave and intend to refuse to take part in a “military occupation of a foreign country or territory” (8 (3) (c)) may be imprisoned “for life” (8 (4)(a)).
John McDonnell MP submitted an amendment to: replace “for life” with “must not exceed two years”. Following a debate the amendment was lost. You can read the whole debate by going to Hansard and checking the House of Commons Debates for 22 May 2006.
The 17 Labour MPs who voted in favour of John McDonnell’s amendment are listed below.
| John Austin | Erith & Thamesmead |
| Michael Clapham | Barnsley West & Penistone |
| Katy Clark | North Ayrshire & Arran |
| Harry Cohen | Leyton & Wanstead |
| Jeremy Corbyn | Islington North |
| Bill Etherington | Sunderland North |
| Paul Flynn | Newport West |
| Neil Gerrard | Walthamstow |
| Ian Gibson | Norwich North |
| Kelvin Hopkins | Luton North |
| Lynne Jones | Birmingham Selly Oak |
| John McDonnell | Hayes & Harlington |
| Linda Riordan | Halifax |
| Alan Simpson | Nottingham South |
| Dennis Skinner | Bolsover |
| Rudi Vis | Finchley & Golders Green |
| Robert Wareing | Liverpool West Derby |